LBI’s Pre-Game Predictions

Flint Hamady vs. Flint Southwestern

November 30, 2015 7:00 PM

Flint Southwestern Academy

It’s here...the beginning of the 2015-16 basketball season! The Flint Hamady Hawks will open up visiting the Flint Southwestern Lady Knights. Hamady comes off a great championship run season that ended in a heartbreaking lost in the Class C championship game at the Breslin. Southwestern is a tough, gritty team that will be looking to turn things around after non-flattering 2014-15 season. Hamady is led by All-State, St. Bonaventure recruit, senior Jalisha Terry, while Southwestern will lean on honorable mention All-State junior Tyesha Bowers. So what does this game mean? Well, it means nothing for Flint Hamady who expects to win this game easily as they have been the local powerhouse for many years. For Flint Southwestern, getting this win can mean everything. A win for their season opener can be the beginning of a revived winning culture that is desperately needed and hasn’t been around since the Berry Sisters, one of which who transferred to Hamday and sparked their Class C reign , attended the school.  A win for Hamady is just another notch in the win column for the Hawks, but a win for FSWA would be huge stepping stone for the Knights.    

Keys to Victory

Hamady

• Hamady has to be efficient on offense. Look to attack and finish.
• Southwestern will key in on Terry defensively, so key role players will need to step up.
• Take advantage of transition opportunities created by their full court press.
• The back court must penetrate the paint early and force Southwestern to foul.
• Maintain intensity for 32 minutes. Don’t get comfortable;  stay locked in the whole game

Southwestern

• Control the pace of the game.
• Put a stop to Hamady’s guards’ penetration. Spread the floor and force them to shoot the long three.
• Get past the first wave of Hamady’s press and look to score.
• Dominate the boards. Don’t allow Hamady to get multiple shot attempts. One shot per each possession.
• Get to the free throw line early and often.
• Control emotions and stay focused.

Prediction

Sometimes games are won because of the history of the program, not necessarily because of an individual team. Hamady is that program. Southwestern is a hungry team that will fight till the end, however it won’t be enough for the crosstown battle tested program with a long history of winning.

Final score: 53-44 Hamady

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